Minerva Cinema to be demolished

MUMBAI: Minerva Cinema, which was bought over by Osian’s Connoisseurs of Art’s Neville Tuli, in July this year for Rs 300 million (Rs 30 crores) from Eagle Theatres, is soon going to be demolished.

Post the buyout deal, the screenings at the theatre were suspended for a week, only to resume on 14 July with Golmaal ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ Fun Unlimited.

The latest on this is that from the first week of November there will be no more screenings at the theatre.

V.I.P. Films’ Vinay Choksey says, “Yes, I have heard about the closure. It is sad to know. Whether the new owners will build a mini-theatre or multiplex is not known.”

Janata Film Distributors’ Mr Popat said, “I have heard that Minerva will be closed down from November, 2006 and there will be no screening of films. There are plans to reconstruct it. It will be up to Tuli’s whether to house a cinema in the complex or not.”

Eagle Films’ Shashi adds, “As per the circular received, we won’t be screening films from 9 November till further notice.”

“A couple of days back, the office people of Neville Tuli had applied for B.M.C.’s permission for demolition. We have received notices that the cinema hall will be closed down and 9 November will be our last working day,” informs a worker at Minerva.

Sources reveal that Minerva theatre, which till today screens Yash Chopra’s Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge starring Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol, will be be renamed as Osianama and will be set up as a resource centre-cum-museum.